I know, I know. You're mad at me before you've even started reading, but give me a chance here. Take off the nostalgia goggles and put on your realism-colored glasses, and you'll realize the truth.
The Beatles may have been instrumental in the creation of pop music, but One Direction perfected it.
I can't deny The Beatles had a huge impact on popular culture, and Beatlemania ruled the world in the 60s. The band received 12 thousand letters a day from passionate fans.
Okay, ignore that phrase. One Direction, like The Beatles before them, won the hearts of teenage girls everywhere, but they won more. The difference is social media. The band's twitter account has over 30 million followers, and each band member tops that number on their own.
The Beatles early hits were classic pop music, with sweet romantic tunes like 'Please Please Me' and 'Love Me Do.' As their career went on, they came into their own as musicians and songwriters, and their music matured with them.
Sure, they may have played their own instruments, but it turns out they weren't very good at it. Music legend Quincy Jones once said that "they were the worst musicians in the world. They were no-playing [expletive]. Paul was the worst bass player I ever heard. And Ringo? Don’t even talk about it."
Did those complaints about The Beatles' musicianship sound familiar? Did they sound kind of like every criticism of One Direction ever?
Harry Styles said it himself: "None of us think we’re in the same league as them music-wise. We’d be total fools if we did. Fame-wise it’s probably even bigger."
Music quality is subjective, but fame is definitely measurable — and when it comes to fame, One Direction wins.
